Technical Abstract:
The dairy industry is an important contributor to the economy of both New York and Wisconsin. For a healthy agricultural economy it is essential to implement management strategies that protect air and water quality while maintaining or increasing a farm's profitability. Cornell University, the University of Wisconsin, and the USDA-ARS Dairy Forage Research Center studied nutrient management tools, research applications, and educational efforts for dairy farms in New York and Wisconsin. In this final project report, the research and extension teams compare dairy farming and regulations in New York and Wisconsin, describe nine of the nutrient management software tools used in the two states and beyond, and compare teaching tools that are used for undergraduate courses at both universities. Nutrient management tools were evaluated based on a set of criteria agreed upon at the onset of the project so that farmers and their consultants, as well as researchers, can identify the most appropriate uses for each tool, identify areas where new tools and new functionality are needed, or identify where data can be shared between tools. Model developers and agricultural educators can use this information to improve their nutrient management research and teaching efforts. The primary audiences for this report are researchers, extension personnel and other professionals that generate knowledge and provide assistance to dairy farmers in issues related to feed, fertilizer and manure management.